Echoes of the Past Years

“It’s been with me for five years; I can’t live without it.”

Jackson looked at the dying dog, then at me, struggling. I knelt, pleading at his feet for the first time. “Jackson, I beg you, that’s my mother; my only family for twenty years, the only person I have left!”

He shut his eyes and looked away in pain. His voice was barely audible: “Elizabeth, I’m sorry. But your mother’s illness can’t be cured. This medicine would only extend her suffering for a few days.”

He paused, struggling to speak. “I owe Noelle too much; she… can’t handle any more stress.”

He gave the life-saving medicine to the dog himself. I cried so much I fainted. When I woke, an urn was in front of me.

“Miss Adams, please accept my condolences.” The doctor’s eyes were full of grief. “Without a cure, we did everything we could…”

I shook my head, not crying. I just held the small urn and sat in the cemetery, staring blankly for three hours.

Then Noelle ran out with the Samoyed, looking upset. “Elizabeth, she’s gone. Don’t grieve.” She paused, then added, “How about letting Snowball eat your mother’s ashes?”

My mind went blank. “What did you just say?”

At that moment, Jackson appeared behind her and approached me. “Snowball just finished treatment and isn’t fully nourished yet. Elizabeth, go ahead; this will bring good karma for your mother. Isn’t she religious? She’d be happy knowing she saved a dog’s life.”

I couldn’t believe it. “You two monsters! That’s my mother! You can’t touch her!”

By then, the bodyguards had surrounded me. They scattered the ashes on the ground in front of me.

I watched helplessly as the Samoyed slowly ate my beloved. It licked its lips, wanting more and barked at me.

I struggled, my eyes blazing with fury. “You monsters! I’ll kill you all!”

Jackson said coldly, “Rude. Snowball just ate and needs silence. Make her stop.”

A loud slap hit. “Jackson, you have no heart!” I screamed, but he held Noelle tightly, not looking back.

I was dragged to the basement and beaten all night, covered in bruises. Meanwhile, Jackson and Noelle watched fireworks on a luxury cruise ship.

In despair, I risked my life. After fighting the guards several times, I escaped. While heading to the airport with my luggage, I called the director of Arcanum Sanctum Research Academy, “Director, I want to report Jackson of the Argelith branch for infidelity, domestic violence, misuse of classified drugs, collusion with the mafia and desecration of corpses. The evidence is on this USB drive. Please investigate and fire him immediately.”